You seize the day with your friends, somewhere on top of a roof in what was once, not that long ago, the modern industrial district of Eindhoven. And from the deck it feels like you're on top of the world. The breeze cleanses your hair, the sun kisses your cheeks, the buds are finally exploding and the sound they make plays like music in your ears. Spring has come! We waited for this for so long.

With this wonderful weather came the realization how great it is to have a different schedule from when I was a student. I remembered how surprised I was with the fact that the majority of Dutch students I knew back then end their school work at 5PM on weekdays and usually don't work in the weekends. But I and most of my foreign colleagues worked around the clock. The schedule made you feel guilty to be out on the porch on Sunday having an afternoon coffee with a couple of friends. There was so much I could be doing for my Master's thesis or other assignments instead... It seemed each break I took was put into a small frame and with time racing by I felt like now I must go back to work, otherwise I will be squeezed into a small cube.

I'm not trying to say internationals were working so hard that they spent all of their time writing top-quality theses and studying for other subjects like real geeks at universities of technology should (which is perfectly fine, by the way). The main thing I want to say is that it seems to me that sometimes Dutchies were actually much more efficient and knew exactly how to work to have a well-deserved evening off and a great stress-free weekend. Most of the time, that is.

Now I am a trainee at the USI department. And although we still work late from time to time, or come to the office earlier, we usually don't have to do anything work-related during the weekends or when the working day is over. So for the first time after a long time, I'm finally beginning to understand how wonderful it is to have such a balanced life and be able to do so many amazing things, e.g. celebrating spring without being overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.

As an former student, I hope the ones who are still studying will learn something from their Dutch (and not only Dutch) colleagues about proper time management. And do it fast, before this wonderful spring is over.